Fishtown Preservation
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Events
    • 2023 Friends of Fishtown 5K
    • Giving Tuesday 2022
  • Visit | Stay
    • Shanties
    • Art Shanty
      • Art Shanty Opportunity
    • Fish Tugs
    • Fishtown Shops and Charters
    • Fishtown Vacation Rental
    • Photo Galleries
    • Our Community
    • Directions and Map
  • About
    • Fishtown Board
      • Honoring Kathryn Eckert Omoto, 1935-2022 – by Berkley W. Duck
    • Fishtown Staff
    • Commercial Fishing Today and Q & A
    • Internships
    • FAQs
    • Our Partners
    • Fishtown Newsletters
    • News from Fishtown
    • Media / Press Coverage
  • Support
    • Donate to Fishtown
    • Campaign for Fishtown
    • Become an Anchor
    • Our Business Anchors
    • Get Involved
  • Blog
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Meet Gabby Grobbel
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Discovering Fishing Tales and Art Inspiration
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Let’s Talk Fish
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Fishtown Then and Now
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Discovering the Manitou Islands
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – A Busy Time in Fishtown
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Leland Blue Stones
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Common Fishtown Questions
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Piping Plover Project
    • Stories and Fishes and Me – Defining Fishtown
  • Shop
    • Clay Carlson giclee prints
  • Fishtown Forever
  • Contact
Navigation
Search the site...
  • Home
  • History
  • Fishermen and Families
  • When Pentwater Had a Fishtown

When Pentwater Had a Fishtown

May 6, 2011 / Amanda Holmes / Fishermen and Families, Fishing, History
3

As I mentioned in my last post, Bud Stenberg came to visit us in Fishtown last week. We shared a few of his photos with you then and, as promised, we’re back with some more photos and postcards that Bud has generously shared from his collection.

These are images of Pentwater’s bustling commercial fishing history. Bud is in these photos, as is his brother Fritz and their fishing tug, Maggie Lynn.

Like Leland (Fishtown is Leland’s historic fishing district), Pentwater is a small Lake Michigan shoreline town that’s become a summertime visiting destination. What’s different is that you won’t find any trace of this fishing life along Pentwater’s shores today.

The fishing villages scattered through coastal towns – a lot of them were actually called “fishtowns” – were built of wood, and all were constantly exposed to the wind and the waves. When commercial fishing ended, the fishtowns were pulled down (or just fell down), and now other things are in their place.

This is why we’re preserving Fishtown in Leland, and why Fishtown remains an active commercial fishery. We want to keep Fishtown alive not only for this one place but as a way of keeping alive a way of life that once spread around the entire Great Lakes. The life that keeps Bud returning to Fishtown.

We hope you enjoy these moments and faces from Pentwater’s fishing world. We also hope these will remind us all of how easy it is to to let the the important things slip away, if we stop paying attention.

3 comments on “When Pentwater Had a Fishtown”

  1. Kim Loncar says:
    May 14, 2012 at 1:25 am

    Your slideshow on the Pentwater commericial fishing industry is outanding! My Grandfather was Dan Loncar and the owner operator of the PAL tugboat that is pictured in the video. I would love to get photo copies of the pictures used and any other info that Chuck Stenberg might be able to copy for us (we’d pay him for the copies). My Dad George Loncar remember’s Chuck as does my uncle Robert. Has Chuck ever thought of recording his recollections on video tape for posterity? That would be very interesting for us who have connections to the Pentwater fishtown.

    Reply
  2. Kim Loncar says:
    May 15, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    Sorry, I meant to say “Bud” Stenberg. I don’t know why “Chuck” was in my head.

    Reply
  3. Kim Loncar says:
    December 25, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Amanda,

    I was wondering if I could purchase a copy of this video on DVD. Is that possible? Send me an e-mail. Thanks! I enjoy playing it and I would like my own copy.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How to Reach Us

Fishtown Preservation
Office location and hours
203 E. Cedar Street
P.O. Box 721
Leland, MI 49654M-F 9:00-4:00 (year-round)
(231) 256-8878
(231) 256-2517 (fax)
[email protected]
Facebook.com/FishtownMI

You Make the Difference

With your help, we're preserving the past and the present of Fishtown. Please contribute today.

Our Business Anchors

  • Leelanau Goods

    Leelanau clothing offers nostalgic, feminine designs, impeccably sewn with custom prints and natural textiles. Responsibly designed and manufactured in the USA....

  • Wislow Research

    Located in Lake Leelanau and San Diego, Wislow Research specializes in fisheries applied social science research....

  • Village Cheese Shanty

    The never-trendy, tourist-friendly, palate teasing, village cheese shop located in the heart of Fishtown....

  • HopkinsBurns Design Studio

    Since 1984, the firm’s Historic Preservation Practice has participated in hundreds of preservation projects involving...

  • Peninsula Vacation Rentals

    Peninsula Vacation Rentals is in the business of providing families with a place to begin their love affair with Leelanau County. This county has everything...

  • Bel Lago Winery

    Established in 1992, Bel Lago began serving wine on the edge of Lake Leelanau in 1999. Today, our northern Michigan winery is known for crafting...

  • The Bead Hut

    Unique handcrafted jewelry using Leland blue, Petoskey stones, beach glass, and semiprecious gemstones....

  • Big Stone Bay Fishery

    For more than thirty years, Cameron “Cam” McMurry of Big Stone Bay Fishery has caught and...

  • Leelanau Books

    Leelanau Books is a quaint, full service bookshop stocking a great selection of fiction and non-fiction books, perfect for vacation relaxation. Located right on Main...

  • Shady Lane Market

    Shady Lane Market is a one-of-a-kind, convenience store/gas station located between Suttons Bay and Traverse City on M-22....

  • Art’s Tavern

    If you know Glen Arbor, then you know Art's......

  • Long’s Furniture World and Mattress

    Long’s Furniture World in Franklin, Indiana, offers a wide selection of both traditional and modern furniture and high quality mattresses....

  • Haystacks

    Haystacks Brand Clothing and Accessories are designed, cut, and sewn at our Design Studio in Suttons Bay, Michigan...

  • Thomas & Milliken Millworks

    Thomas & Milliken Millwork has been producing quality custom moulding, doors and stair parts since 1977....

  • The Cove

    The Cove serves lunch and dinner daily. Call 231-256-9834 for dinner reservations....

  • Green Goodness

    An array of Earth friendly products for women, baby, body and home....

  • Leland Mercantile Co.

    Leland Mercantile is a full-line grocery store....

  • Leland Chamber of Commerce

    The Leland Chamber of Commerce promotes economic growth and stability in the extended Leland community. ...

  • Van’s Garage

    Shining as a gem from a bygone age, Van's Garage stands apart as a true original....

  • Tampico

    Sterling Silver jewelry is our specialty, featuring our Petoskey Stone, Leland Blue and Beach Glass & much more....

  • Two Fish Leland

    Discover authentic art, uplifting gifts and an uncommon experience at Two Fish Gallery, Two Fish II and Two Fish Stay....

  • Diversions

    As our name implies we are more than just a hat store. ...

  • Pete Miller, Attorney

    For twenty-five years Pete Miller has been representing businesses and individuals in real estate and business transactions....

(c) 2013 Fishtown Preservation - Web Design by History By Design and Alyeska.
  • Log In
  • Sitemap
  • Archives
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us